Cereal is traditionally eaten for breakfast, but at the end of a long day, you may have poured it into a bowl as an evening meal But is eating cereal at night good for sleep?

Along with cutting back on caffeine and choosing the best mattress for your body, another sleep secret we always recommend is to ditch the heavy evening meal and have a light, easily digestible dinner before bed A bowl of cereal is certainly lighter than other meals, but will it help you sleep better?

With food manufacturers pushing breakfast foods as bedtime snacks, and Kellogg's CEO controversially suggesting that cash-strapped families should eat cereal for dinner, we asked nutritionist Jessica G Anderson We asked dietitian Jessica G Anderson of Top Nutrition Coaching to discuss whether having breakfast for dinner is actually good for you Here are the results

Anderson explains that cereal is a great pre-bedtime snack, as long as you choose it right Anderson says, "Cereal for dinner can be a great dinner and bedtime meal that can promote both health and sleep if prepared strategically"

According to nutritionists, the benefits of eating cereal for dinner stem from the fact that most cereals have a high glycemic index (GI); the higher the GI, the better it is for improving sleep onset latency (time before falling asleep) Cereals with a high GI stimulate insulin release, which is a key component of sleep, increase the circulation of an amino acid called tryptophan As blood tryptophan levels begin to rise, tryptophan crosses the cerebral blood barrier

"It is then converted into serotonin and melatonin, causing drowsiness and dullness," explains the nutritionist

"Thus, eating cereal for dinner or as a snack an hour or two before bedtime can improve sleep onset latency

She also recommends eating smaller portions, as a small bowlful of cereal shortly before bed is better than a large meal that takes longer to digest She says, "Mindful eating has been shown to improve satisfaction with meals and snacks 'When eaten in moderation and combined with an overall healthy diet, cereal can be enjoyed in peace'

Anderson's tips for preparing cereal for dinner include the following:

Before reaching for your favorite frosted cereal with little marshmallows, you may want to check the nutritional information on the box

"Not all cereals are created equal," warns Anderson Many cereals on the market are more like desserts, high in sugar and containing little or no fiber" The American Heart Association recommends limiting daily sugar intake to no more than 9tsp (32g or 150 calories) for men and 6tsp (25g or 100 calories) for women

If you are planning to eat cereal tonight, Anderson recommends that you consider whether the snack meets the following checklist:

Anderson recommends that you consume three nutrient-dense food groups before bed: starch or whole grains (found in most cereals), lean protein (such as Greek yogurt or skim milk), and fruits and vegetables Anderson suggests, "For the whole grain group, consider cereals that are high in fiber and low to medium in sugar"

Here are some cereals Anderson often eats for evening snacking: [24